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A Hybrid Experimental/Numerical Investigation of the Response of Multilayered MEMS Devices to Dynamic Loading

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Abstract

In order to probe the mechanical response of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) subjected to dynamic loading, a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar was used to load MEMS devices at accelerations ranging from 103–105  g. Multilayer beams consisting of a PZT film sandwiched between two metal electrodes atop an elastic layer of silicon dioxide were studied because of their relevance to active MEMS devices. Experiments were conducted using the modified split Hopkinson pressure bar to quantify the effects of dynamic loading amplitude, duration, and temporal profile on the failure of the multilayered cantilever beams. Companion finite element simulations of these beams, informed by experimental measurements, were conducted to shed light into the deformation of the multilayered beams. Results of the numerical simulations were then coupled with independent experimental measurements of failure stress in order to predict the material layer at which failure initiation occurred, and the associated time to failure. High-speed imaging was also used to capture the first real-time images of MEMS structures responding to dynamic loading and successfully compare the recorded failure event with those predicted numerically.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Army Research Office (ARO) under the Grant W911NF-05-1-0063 with Dr. Bruce LaMattina as the program manager, and the support by the National Science Foundation under Grant CMS-0555787. Electron microscopy was carried out in the Center for Microanalysis of Materials, University of Illinois, which is partially supported by the US Department of Energy under grant DEFG02-91-ER45439. The authors would also like to thank Richard Piekarz, John Conrad, and Joel Martin of the Army Research Laboratory along with Prashant Ranade of General Technical Services for their assistance in the fabrication of the MEMS devices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    J. Kimberley (SEM member), J. Lambros (SEM member) & I. Chasiotis (SEM member)

  2. US Army Research Laboratories, Adelphi, MD, USA

    J. Pulskamp, R. Polcawich & M. Dubey

Authors
  1. J. Kimberley
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  2. J. Lambros
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  3. I. Chasiotis
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  4. J. Pulskamp
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  5. R. Polcawich
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  6. M. Dubey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Lambros.

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Kimberley, J., Lambros, J., Chasiotis, I. et al. A Hybrid Experimental/Numerical Investigation of the Response of Multilayered MEMS Devices to Dynamic Loading. Exp Mech 50, 527–544 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-009-9259-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-009-9259-0

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